Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-01-27


place here for moment"
Janet Isle nodded in assent
''Do come in here an instant with
me, won't you?" and Elsie signed that
Miss Josephine should accompany her
into the coy back parlor, where all
was now in readiness for tea. 1.-The
fact is, Miss Josephine. I've done the
most stupid thing imaginable to-day
made mistake. ano prepared nearly
twice the number of crumpets that will
be wanted by anybody. Isn't it abb
surd Of me? You won't mind-no. I'm
sure YOU won't Miss Joscphine-help-
ing me out of my trOuble?''
"But hOw?" came, hesitatingly, in
response. Then came-ah, so bravely,
for it is ever difficult to tell the plain
truth in such matters-'.I can't. It's
quite impossible. We have no money.
Don't you understand"
" Absurdr' was the interruption.
'Why, it's a favor I'm asking of you;
don't you see? l knew you would be
in to-day, for certain, and would be-
friend me. It's only that l want you,
| if you don't mind the trouble, to carry
home a dozen or so to your sweet
mother. Many's the dozen she has or
dered from us in the past, when, per-
haps, we haven't been able to supply
her. One can not forget that fact. you
know. in hurry. So there they are,
Mss Josephine. all hot and ready-but-
tered, for don't think you know how
to do it yourself You had better go
out this way, by the side door, and then
no one will be the wiser for the favor
you've done me-
For one brief instant her worn, pale
faced companion had bent down i'm
pulsively and laid her own soft cheek
against Elsie's. and the next, wholly
unable to speak, she had disappeared.
"a rather heavier mailbag tonight
than usual, wasn't it. Elsie?''
Eyes, aunt. Thank You for doing it
up for me. At any rate, the registered
letters did not occupy you long
| wnIle."
mo, child"
Meanwhile Elsie had been engaged in
penning dozen words or more upon a
large sheet of letter-paper, and the fol-
lowing morning, side by side with the
well-known "mufiin and trumpet"
statement, appeared the following:
"A young lady, clever and welleducated. de-
eires at once a good morning or daily engage
lxut references. Apply for particulars within. ~
''All that advertising in the news
papers is only throwing money away"
nr,sed Elsie. ''I'll manage things for
her little better in this way, perhaps.
shall never forget her miserably care
worn face last evening""
Miss Josephine had, in most mex
plicable way, won the woman's entire
sympathy, and also admiration. of
Elsie. And yet the latter never seemed
to forget the difference in station that
she considered still existed between her
faSorite and herself. She only knew
that the lawyers daughter was very
model Of sweet patience, and that she
and all at home were rs poor as any
church-mouse.
II.
''Oh. my!' exclaimed little Bob
Travers that morning, rs the letters
were brought in. 'What shoals of let
tiers! What lot of governesses we
shall have, mother! 1 do declare if it
won't be just like an evening party"
Hold Your tongue. Bob!' urged his
father. peremptorily. Leave the
ROOM"
Letters of importance had to be dis
cusscd. most of them bearing reference
to what Bob had termed the ''evening
party" Some applicants declared they
were experienced. because middle
aged. Others asserted that they We're
young. and therefore generally re-
garled as having an attractive way
with children; which latter statement
was yet worse. The last-described
young ladies would perhaps prove at
trastive in other ways. and fall des-
per,tely in love with the quiet bachelor
Uncle Fred. No. that wouldn't do at
all. and in a decided fit of ill-humor
<Bob's father threw the entire batch Of
letters into the fire. As usual, when
perturbed in mind. ''mother" turned
the current of conversation by address
ing Uncle Fred.
II wish. when passing janet Lisle's
to-day. you would ask for our maya
zines"
All was hurry-skurry. as usual. three
or four hours later on in the post-Office.
A variety of small packages required
immediate weighing; and it was at this
very juncture that Uncle Fred placed
his foot upon the threshold. Some
thing had. however. just caught his
eve. and without more ado he beat =
hasty retreat-not, however. to a great
distance of.
.sThe very thing!" he calculated.
ssTherei We have been hunting about